Mario Kart: You did NOT defeat me!

“I can't stay on the road! I can't stay on the road! Help....help.....help!!! I can't stay on the road.”

“Mom! You have to turn the wheel. You have to steer in order to stay on the road.”

“I'm trying! Ah, ah ah, ah, no, no, no. I keep running into things. How do I get back on the road? No, no, now I'm going the opposite direction of everyone else. Help!”

“Why don't you use your item?”

“WHAT'S AN ITEM?”

“Press the button right there.”

Whew. Suddenly my cute little Princess Peach disappeared and turned into a mighty bullet with a mind of its own. It went FAST, and more importantly, it stayed right on the road. Perfect! But all too soon, Peach was back, and I was in control again, running on and off the road, falling off cliffs and bridges, dying and resurrecting over and over. Ahhhh!

Most of my days are not filled with this type of adventure. Rarely do I try something I've never tried before. It's a good idea, but quite honestly, I've already tried most of the new things that interest me; either that, or circumstances make doing so impossible. But last night, for the first time ever, I played a video-game. Video-games have been part of my life ever since Christmas of 1999, when I purchased a Game Boy Color for then nine-year-old Isaiah. But until last evening, I had never played one myself.

I played four different races (maps?) of a game called Mario Kart on the Wii, and it was crazy hilarious. I literally screamed through all four races, as Seth laughed hysterically. I could not for the life of me keep that girl and her cart on the road. I was supposed to jump from mushroom to mushroom without falling helplessly into the water beneath, but how? Sometimes my Peach girl would suddenly jump high and do several 360s before landing again on the track, and that was the coolest part, well other than when she turned into a bullet.

I'm happy to report that I only got last place in three of the four races; I got 9th place out of 12 on one. All in all, it was pretty scary, and I can't say I have a huge desire to do it again, but I'm glad I did it once.

Mario Kart: you did NOT defeat me.

Not sure how I feel about that conversation.

Seth and I were just looking at the calendar, counting down the days until he is finished with school. Not realizing how soon various things are coming up, I remarked:

Me: Wow, Seth once your school is over, you and I won't see each other much for a couple weeks.

Seth: Really?

Me:  Yeah. The week after school gets out you go straight to EFY. Then you're home for one day to celebrate your 15th birthday, and then I leave for Young Women's camp.

Seth: That's great!!! I mean, not that great.. I mean, well, I love being around you and seeing you every day and all that. But it's really nice when you're not here telling me to do stuff all the time. Dad doesn't really pay attention to all that stuff. But you say, "Seth, have you practiced the piano?" and "Seth, do you have any homework?" and "Seth, you need to eat dinner." and "Seth, you need to clean your room," and "Seth, you need to go to bed soon."

Hmmm. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about that conversation. But I do love Seth. And I know he loves me. So I guess that is all that matters.

Be careful what you wish for...

...because it might come true, and it might be even more fun than you imagined.

Which is what happened to me today.

Back story, I have on occasion joked that the best ever Sunday for me would be if I got to speak in Sacrament Meeting, then teach Sunday School, and then teach Relief Society. For those readers not of my faith, our church does not have a paid clergy, so no pastor to speak every week. Instead, all the members of the congregation get a turn. And it's my favorite! For real. However, I am in a tiny minority. Most people, it seems, do not love to speak in Sacrament Meeting. They do it, but they don't love it. I love it.

So when the bishopric asked me to speak on the topic of women and their influence on society and in the world, I was super stoked. But I never imagined my dream of a 3-hour block, speaking and teaching every hour would come true. I teach in the 2nd hour every week, a class called "Gospel Essentials," for those learning about our church, new members, missionaries, and a few others who just like the class. But I only teach in Relief Society (3rd hour) on the fourth Sunday, and today is obviously not the fourth Sunday. However, a week or so ago, the Relief Society President asked me if I would lead a discussion about a couple of women from the scriptures. They wanted something special, something fun, because all the women and young women in the ward would be present. The men were substituting in primary classes to give all the women a break for Mother's Day.

Woo hoo! My dream Sunday.

So I went straight to work figuring out my talk, along with thinking about what I might do for Relief Society. In the middle of the night one day last week, I woke Gerald up and asked him to think of a woman in scripture that we don't know much about, someone who would be fun to learn about. His first thought: Abish from the Book of Alma. As we read the story, we both immediately thought how perfectly it was suited to melodrama. And it was! So I narrated, and Gerald played King Lamoni, and Shulamith played the queen. Seth played Ammon, and our friend Kara had the starring role as Abish. It was fun and funny and fabulous.

My talk was also fun, and my Gospel Essentials lesson included great contributions from class members, old and new. It really was my dream Sunday, and I enjoyed every second.

Now we are off to Macaroni Grill. And before you judge me, no, we do not typically go out to eat on Sunday. It is the one day of the week I always cook dinner for everyone. However, once again, just like on Valentine's  Day, this restaurant can't manage without my kids. They convinced Eli to come home from Rexburg to work. The convinced Isaiah to come in, even though he has a 5:30 am (!) flight to Toronto tomorrow morning. They even convinced Shulamith to work. And they offered free food for Gerald, Seth, and me if I loaned them my children for Mother's Day. So yeah, we are going!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in my life: my mom, Gerald's mom, Shulamith, and all my friends who are such amazing mothers. I hope your day is the happiest!

Those Mother's Day Breakfast-in-Bed Meals Improve with Time

Breakfast in bed. What greater luxury is there? But what about when the cook is five? We moms have all experienced the peanut butter toast mess carried ever so proudly on a tray by a five-year-old beaming with joy for her accomplishment. The love is almost indescribable. But then we have to eat it. Okay, maybe you actually like peanut butter toast. I don't really. But yes, I've eaten it. And I'd gladly eat it again if I still had a tiny tot to make it for me.

However, I want you to know that these Mother's Day breakfast-in-bed meals do improve. They improve proportionately with children's increasing age. That five-year-old's peanut butter toast turns into cinnamon/sugar toast with a fruit bowl on the side by the time your child is seven or eight. And then...at some point, he learns to make pancakes! And you think to yourself, “Wow, this is way better than peanut butter toast.”

And the time goes by. At age 10 or 11, your child reminds you the night before to “stay in bed.” By now, she is actually cooking real food. You might get eggs, maybe even bacon, possibly waffles or french toast. As you awake to the frenzy of clanging pots and pans, you wonder what is happening to your kitchen. Will it ever be the same? But then, in walks your sweet 10-year-old with a plate of slightly undercooked eggs and overcooked bacon, with a flower handpicked and in a vase, and your heart melts all over again. All thoughts of messy kitchens vanish.

And the time goes by. My youngest is now 14. Last year on Mother's Day, he was determined to prepare a gourmet breakfast-in-bed for me, which he served in courses. First, he brought a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice and one of my favorite bran muffins. Next came an omelet with green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and cheese. This was followed by pepper bacon and blueberry pancakes. At the very end, he brought me a See's maple pecan bon bon, the best candy on the planet.

It was lovely and delicious, and he did it all with very limited help from Gerald. Indeed, the Mother's Day breakfast-in-bed meals improve with time; still, my heart misses the peanut butter toast mess and the sweet five-year-old beaming with pride.

Happy Mother's Day from a Beginner Mom

I have been a mother for over 20 years, yet I am still a beginner. I have years of experience, but I am ever figuring it out. I have five children, though I am far from an expert. Motherhood is the greatest work I will ever do but also the hardest. Its joy is unparalleled and its frustration unmatched. Oftentimes, the more I learn, the more inadequate I feel. My own humanness gets in the way. My own character flaws prevent me from being the mom I want to be.

Nevertheless, God has blessed me with five incredible human beings, lent to me for a mere twinkle in time, to nurture, teach, influence, and love. I will press forward in this monumental task. I am a beginner mom, but I will not give up.

I will not give up on me. Each day is new and fresh with opportunity to improve. I am trying to be more patient, more present, and more peaceful. Patience is not one of my strengths, but honestly, is waiting that extra few seconds for my self-conscious teenager to take one last look at his hair really going to make any difference? But if I put down my phone and shut my laptop and truly listen to what he has to say, that could make a difference. Moreover, I'm guessing that my effort to be more patient and more present will just naturally result in more peace.

I will not give up on my children. They won't always do exactly what I want them to do. It's a hard fact to face because we moms really think we know best, and more often than not, we do, but our children must be allowed to choose for themselves. Without the opportunity to choose, they cannot grow. We must let go of the control. It's tough; I am well aware. But we are their biggest fans, their most loyal advocates, and so long as they know where they can always turn for help, we have done our jobs.

I will not give up on the world. We live in troubled and tumultuous times; few will argue that. Still, I see so much that is good. The world I have helped to create and the one I will leave for my children is full of grace. I see it everywhere. I see helpful people serving those in need. I see families of all different kinds, shapes, and sizes where love abounds. I see dedicated educators teaching my children day after day, with caring hearts and for way too little pay. I see heroes sacrificing everything they have for the betterment of society. There are bad guys, yes, but there are more good guys. And I'm confident that in the end, good will triumph.

Being a mom is my favorite. I believe it was my destiny, and there is nothing that matters more. But even with over 20 years in the “field,” I am still a beginner. I am a beginner mom who will not give up.